Millions of visitors come to the Fort Worth Stockyards each year, and leaders say one of the area’s biggest challenges is keeping up with parking demand. On Thursday, owners of M.L. Leddy’s broke ground on a new $14 million parking garage that will be open to the public. The project is expect ed to add nearly 250 parking spaces, increasing parking capacity in the area by 32%. Wilson Franklin, owner of M.L. Leddy’s, said the project is intended to serve both customers and the broader Stockyards community. “To be part of the stockyards fabric means carrying forward a tradition of service and genuine Western hospitality,” Franklin said. Fort Worth Mayor Pro Tem Carlos Flores said the garage was identified as a need through a 2023 study focused on the district. “When you see it, it’s not gonna look like a parking garage, it’s going to look like something that fits, that is complementary to this district,” Flores said. Flores said improving parking and reducing congestion benefits not only visitors but also residents who live near the Stockyards. “The Stockyards, you know, gave rise to the neighborhoods around us. And they’re still here, and they’re residents here. If congestion is a problem in the Stockyards, it’s going to affect those neighbors,” Flores said. While construction on the parking garage is moving forward, not every Stockyards development is on schedule. In August, Stockyards Heritage Development Company announced it was pausing plans to develop roughly 20 acres after reviewing market conditions. The proposed billion-dollar project included hotels, restaurants and retail space. Paul Paine, president of Fort Worth Stockyards Inc., said he believes the project will eventually resume. “I like to say that it’s a halt because that’s what I’ve been told from Heritage,” Paine said. Paine said he remains optimistic about continued development in the district, pointing to other proposals, including a planned multi-million-dollar hotel resort. “I’m not worried. Development is going to continue,” Paine said. According to Paine, the Stockyards gains nearly 1 million visitors each year, a trend he believes will continue to attract investment. “One thing I’ve learned, money likes money, and the stockyards is growing very, very well and fast,” Paine said. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication. ...read more read less